Abstract:
By virtue of their excellent electrical conductivity, biocompatibility, flexibility and stability, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonic acid (PEDOT:PSS) conductive hydrogels have been widely used in biosensors, neural electrode and wearable bioelectronic devices, etc. However, researchers usually greatly increased ionic strength and lowered pH to change the aggregation state of PEDOT:PSS to synthesize PEDOT:PSS conductive hydrogels and to some extent this synthesis condition was harsh in consideration of its future application. In this paper, we provided a facile way to synthesize this conductive hydrogel, that is, bovine serum albumin (BSA) was introduced to induce PEDOT:PSS in situ by changing its spatial configuration to rapidly form a PEDOT:PSS/BSA interpenetrating network conductive hydrogel in one step. It was found that the hydrogel has inherited excellent electrical conductivity of PEDOT:PSS, and in the same time, the unfolded BSA endowed the hydrogel with good swelling and thermal properties. Moreover, the hydrogel has certain mechanical properties and excellent hemolysis rate. To our surprise, the hydrogel also exhibited good adhesion, and self-healing properties. In all, the synthesized method and excellent properties of PEDOT:PSS/BSA interpenetrated hydrogel we provided could have a wide potential in wearable bioelectronics and wound healing dressings.